Exercises — Week 12: Week 12 — The Informative/Explanatory Writing Task

1. Full Informative Constructed Response: Rain Gardens

1. Read Source 1 (from a county environmental fact sheet): "A rain garden is a shallow, planted bowl in the ground placed where water flows off a roof, driveway, or sidewalk. Instead of rushing into a storm drain, rainwater collects in the garden and soaks into the soil within a day or two. Native plants such as black-eyed Susans and switchgrass have deep roots that open paths for water and hold the soil in place. Some Maryland counties offer rebates to residents who build rain gardens." Then read Source 2 (from a science magazine article): "When rain falls on pavement, it picks up fertilizer, motor oil, and pet waste and carries them through storm drains straight into streams and, eventually, the Chesapeake Bay. Soil and plant roots act as a natural filter, trapping many of these pollutants before they reach groundwater. Scientists say that slowing and spreading out stormwater also reduces the sudden floods that erode stream banks after heavy storms."
2. Read the prompt: Write an informative essay that explains how rain gardens help communities manage stormwater. Use information from both sources to develop your explanation.
3. Plan for 8 minutes: write a one-sentence controlling idea, then choose two or three body-paragraph points (for example, how rain gardens capture water, how they filter pollution, and how they reduce flooding) and list one detail from each source you will use.
4. Draft for 32 minutes: an introduction with your controlling idea, body paragraphs that each open with a topic sentence, evidence labeled by source ("According to Source 2 ..."), at least two sentences of explanation after each piece of evidence, transitions between paragraphs, and a conclusion. Keep a formal, objective style.
5. Score your draft for 10 minutes with this practice rubric in the format MCAP uses. Written Expression 4: a clear controlling idea, logical organization with strong transitions, well-chosen evidence from both sources that is thoroughly explained, and precise, formal language. Written Expression 3: a clear controlling idea and organization, with relevant evidence and explanation that is adequate but sometimes general. Written Expression 2: a controlling idea that is vague or inconsistent, with limited evidence, little explanation, or uneven organization. Written Expression 1: minimal development or a weak connection to the sources. Written Expression 0: off topic or not an explanation. Written Conventions 3: few errors in grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation, and none that confuse meaning. Written Conventions 2: some errors that rarely interfere with meaning. Written Conventions 1: frequent errors that sometimes interfere. Written Conventions 0: errors make meaning often unclear. Then revise at least one explanation and fix every error you find.